Press Release

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA CROP PROSPECTS MIXED, SAYS FAO REPORT

23 Countries Face Food Shortages, Others Expect Bumper Harvests

ROME, 8 December (FAO) -- Though some regions in sub-Saharan Africa can expect bumper crops, food shortages are forecast in 23 countries throughout the continent, according to the Africa Report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)*.

General Assembly Plenary

Tenth Emergency Special Session

23^rd Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXT REQUESTING INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

TO ISSUE ADVISORY OPINION ON WEST BANK SEPARATION WALL

Tenth Emergency Special Session Approves Measure

By Recorded Vote of 90 in Favour, 8 Against as 74 Abstain

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on Iraq by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

ECONOMIC POLICY KEY TO WORLD ANTI-POVERTY FIGHT SAYS UN

NEW YORK, 8 December (United Nations Department of Public Information) -- Economic policies geared to generating sustainable growth can serve as powerful mechanisms for fighting poverty, especially when ancillary economic and social policies are linked to the needs of the poor, concludes a United Nations report issued today.

HEAD OF UN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CALLS CLOSING SESSION

OF TENTH GENERAL CONFERENCE AN HISTORIC EVENT

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISMAYED AT APPARENT TERRORIST EXPLOSION

IN RUSSIAN COMMUTER TRAIN

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General was dismayed to learn of this morning’s explosion in a commuter train near the Yessentuki station in the Russian Federation.  This appears to be yet another act of terrorism.  Terrorism can never be justified.

UNIVERSALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINS FORMAL RATHER THAN REAL,

HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS IN COMMEMORATION MESSAGE

Ramcharan Cites Poverty, Conflicts, Terrorism,

Violence, Prejudice, Bad Governance as Gross Violations

(Reissued as received.)

Following is the message of acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan on Human Rights Day, which is commemorated on 10 December 2003:

UN DRUG AND CRIME CHIEF DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS

WITH VISITING FOREIGN MINISTER OF AFGHANISTAN

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE FOR LAUNCH OF U THANT INSTITUTE

HAILS PREDECESSOR’S LEGACY OF FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUAL

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message for the launch of the U Thant Institute, delivered in New York today, 5 December, by Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT, URGES

DIALOGUE FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN ZIMBABWE

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Abuja, Nigeria, today, 5 December: